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SINN FÉIN TD Dessie Ellis has detailed the death threats he said he received after he was linked to the murder of prison officer Brian Stack.
He and fellow Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris were named in connection with Brian Stack’s murder by Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell in the Dáil on 7 December. They have since formally filed a complaint relating to the incident.
Ferris was said to have received abuse on the matter in his Kerry constituency while a Sinn Féin spokesperson said Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan received a call to his office last Friday which said that he should “watch his back” because “he’s going to be shot”.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Ellis said that he had received two letters, one of which was particularly vitriolic, in the wake of the statements made in the Dáil.
Ellis, however, said he was taking the threats in his stride.
“I’ve received many of them over the years throughout the peace process,” he said. “I take things as they come. I’m not going to dwell on it.”
The Dublin North West TD added that he had sent the letters to the gardaí at Pearse Street Station, so they could investigate the matter.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that another TD had received a threat following the naming of Ellis and Ferris in the Dáil.
The spokesperson said:
The office of Maurice Quinlivan received a call to the office last Friday evening, where the caller said that Maurice needed to watch his back because he’s going to be shot.
The spokesperson said that Ferris received verbal abuse while out in his Kerry constituency.
Dáil privilege
Farrell used Dáil privilege earlier this month to name Ellis and Ferris in connection with the murder of Stack, who was shot dead in 1983.
In heated scenes in the Dáil following a statement by Gerry Adams TD, Farrell said that he wanted to raise a “point of order”. Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl said that there was to be no “point of order at this stage” but allowed Farrell make a comment “very briefly”.
At the time, Ellis said to Farrell: “I’m not going to have people put my name out there on something that I have nothing to do with.
I refute any allegations. For the information, the man in question claims to be a solicitor, I was actually in jail for the period. In Portlaoise and before that in America so you should check your facts. You’re a disgrace.
Ferris responded:
On the record of this house. In 2013 I met with gardaí at their request regarding the death of Brian Stack, I co-operated fully with them and I have nothing to answer for, and it’s a disgrace what you have come in here naming. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Both Ellis and Ferris have made a complaint to the Dáil’s Committee on Procedure and Privileges, accusing Farrell of abusing privilege.
Their complaint includes details surrounding the threats and abuse both men have received.
According to the Irish Times, a decision on their complaint is due in the new year.
Gerry Adams has faced repeated calls in the Dáil, and from Brian Stack’s son Austin, to clarify what he knows in relation to the murder of Stack.
In the Dáil yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny rolled back on earlier comments he made suggesting that Adams had driven a blacked-out van when a former IRA commander met the sons of Brian Stack in 2013.
Kenny said: “I understand that from the statements made by Gerry Adams that he drove the Stack brothers in his own car to a point where they then travelled in a blacked-out van in which I assume he was the passenger.
So I wish the record of the Dáil to the effect that Deputy Adams did not drive the blacked-out van, that he did travel in it.
Harris saying the GAA needs to listen to the grassroots, if only Harris would do the same and stop taking all his advice from PR advisors and self serving NGOs and start listening to the people who he is supposed to be representing.
@John Dennehy: Ah john give him a chance, a month into the job. He will be gone soon either way, hard to be particularly motivated knowing that I am sure!
‘listen to the grassroots’ lol, that’s rich coming from the head of a government that:
A: is not wanted
B: tries to constantly decieve, manipulate and ignore everyone outside it’s own bubble.
@Finn Barr: I’m no fan of FF or FG, but thankfully we live in a democracy. People like you would do well to remember that your views are not shared by the vast majority of people in Ireland.
@Anthony Curran: June 7th, Curran
What about you listening to the grassroots in ireland
There have always been a section of irish society that value a commodity like money above what really matters,
This is an absolute scam by the GAA so receive tax payers funding use it to charge tax payers to watch the games.
Seriously GAA!
How did people manage in the days where it wouldn’t be until the all ireland semi final or final that games would be televised? I know it’s convenient to watch on TV but it’s bound to be impacting attendance, and these are way down on what they used to be.
@Longlin: Longlin:Other factors above TV impacting on attendances..The back-door started the slide and all this round robin malarkey also takes from the do or die element of games, which given ya might get knocked out in the 1st round or semi final of a provincial championship.. ya made sure you were there ! The game of handball,sorry football, has gone pure muck, surprised people still watch it tbh.. hurling is hot on its heels..the practical professionalisation of the game has seen an ever increasing dependence on fitness, size and strength.. if I wanna watch 30 lads trying to bash the bejaysus out of each other I can watch rugby.. skills in both codes are being squeezed out of the game.. blanket defences , sweeper systems etc etc zzzzz and everybody taking it sooooooo fkn seriously.
Under pressure from the club players the GAA have compressed the entire championship into barely 3 months
Therefore there are large numbers of games every weekend & therefore RTE cannot possibly cover them all
GAAGO are hardly charging a king’s ransom – the REAL issue is that the new season is a dog’s dinner
I don’t mind GAA go it’s an excellent service but their choice of matches to show on it is terrible.
What the GAA needs to look at more than anything especially in a condensed season is ticket prices.
20 quid for league game
20 quid for provincial Championships
25 quid for All Ireland Series.
Since the beginning of February it’s approaching nearly 400 quid spent going to games when petrol, tolls and food are all counted in.
No game apart from Finals and Semi finals should be more than 15 quid. League games should be a tenner.
@Pip morgan: will if ya want to bring the cost down, drive a diesel car don’t go through the tolls and bring your own sambos and a flask of tea or coffee. But better still just watch it on the TV or listen to it on the radio.
Harris you must support the GAA and farmers.
@Sean Money: Some chance of that. He wouldn’t even listen to his own constituents in Newtownmountkennedy.
@Finn Barr: He listens to anyone who doesn’t go around burning other people’s property, threatening the Gardaí and calling all immigrants rap!sts and paedoph!les.
@Anthony Curran: Mr Rigsby listens to nothing only his own echo chamber and open-border NGOs
@Finn Barr: oh yes he is like Rigsby. Like a dirty little man.
“So many people tomorrow will want to watch that Munster Final” …. except its not a Munster final
A lad whos party didnt listen to the voters and wasted 23 million on a pointless referendum, lecturing anyone on not listening is some hypocrisy
Text book grab all association
Every other sport charges and I bet many of those complaining about GAAGO have Sky Sports. If you dont want to pay to watch a gaa match at home, go to the game, or become a member of your local GAA club where you can watch it for free
@Peter Byrne: other sports have professional players. Not sure how many club games you go to but they cost money to see as well
@Peter Byrne: Peter you’re clearly not a sports person .. because that’s hogwash.. if you want to watch underage GAA sure.. but you do know that clubs charge for senior and junior hurling/football games..? not withstanding the fact that as mentioned this ‘amateur ‘ organisation has been funded to the tune of 100s of millions by the taxpayer ..This is pure greed ..and needs to be brought to an abrupt halt ! They wanna put pay walls up fine.. but they can whistle dixie for funding from the taxpayer so..
I SEE THAT THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMITTING OF GAA GAMES./
WELL DID YOU KNOW THAT THE IRISH GOVERNM,ENT HAVE PROMISED THE GAA (A SECTARIAN SPORT) TAXPAYERS MONEY TO REDEVELOP CASEMENT PARK IN BELFAST .THE GAA SHOULD GO TO THE NORTHERN IRELAMD GOVERNMENT OR DOWNING STREET FOR THIS MONEY. THE MONEY PROMISED BY THE EIRE GOVERNMMJENT SHOULD BE PROPERLY USED TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE .SINCE THE GAA IS SECTARIAN THEY SHOULD GO TO THEIR MASTERS NAMELY THE RC CHURCH FOR A HANDOUT.
So long as kerry wins Sam we will be happy.
Cash Payments under the table to Club & Inter County Managers has destroyed Volunteerism in the GAA, it’s now all about what everyone can gain out of it, financially & politically. Govt, GAA & most esp Revenue have turned a blind eye to the loss of Millions in undeclared Cash to the Exchequer over decades. An Inter county manager with a nil success rate is getting €100K, top of the range Merc, fuel card, credit card for expenses & meals & room with a leading hotel group, none of which is declared, he is also a successful businessman. Local clubs paying €20K plus to outside managers that move on a year later. I personally know one club manager now on his 12th club, his love is not GAA, it’s money. Greed has led to volunteers leaving in droves, will never change now.
IPTV is the way to go.
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